Thursday, May 20, 2010

Just when you start to like someone.

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I recently did a post saying I liked this guy - Fr. James Martin S.J.. Now I come to find out that he criticized our Holy Father for stating same sex marriage and abortion pose 'some of today's most insidious and dangerous threats' against the common good. He can do that (criticize) and I'm not going to jump out of my seat and scream heretic, nor am I going to say I no longer like him. But I have to admit I'm very disappointed with the man. I'm of the opinion Fr. Martin ought to have understood the basis for the Pope's comments. Yet this is how Fr. Martin responded:
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"Pope Benedict XVI's comments last week in Fatima, Portugal, in which he stated that abortion and same-sex marriage, were 'some of today's most insidious and dangerous threats' to the common good seemed oddly discordant. The equation of abortion, something that clearly is about a threat to life, with same-sex marriage, which no matter how you look at it, does not mean that anyone is going to die, is bizarre," Martin opined.."A good friend of mine, who is gay, recently resigned from a position at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, where he said, with great dismay, that 'abortionsamesexmarriage' had become one polysyllabic word among some of his bosses.".Questioning the Pope's comment, Fr. Martin asked, "Why aren't 'abortion and war' the most 'insidious and dangerous' threats to the common good?"."The great danger is that this increasingly popular equation will seem to many as having less to do with moral equivalency and more to do with a simple dislike, or even a hatred, of gays and lesbians. "And that goes against not simply Catholic teaching, but against the Gospel,” Martin concluded. - CNA

So yeah, I'm very disappointed in Fr. Martin - maybe I expect too much of people?Pray for the Holy Father every day.

19 comments:

My friend, who is male and homosexual, definetly feels the Catholic Church hates HIM, and not his sexual orientation. Deep down, he believes God also feels this way about him, as if he has been cursed. To live in this state, consciously, all the time, would of-course kill him and it is no suprise to me, that he seeks out company and some sort of acceptance amongst gay groups although he isn't in any relationship. He trained to be a priest, got married, tried everything to be 'hetro' but naturally it didn't work. He is desperate for a close encounter with Jesus, even if he doesn't know it. I see it, as my Catholic duty, to remind him whenever I can, that he is fearfully and woonderfully made, and his soul is stamped with God's image. Now that's how to esteem a guy! (and a gal, come to that!)Perhaps that is, although in somewhat clumsy terms, what the priest was trying to put across, on behalf of his friend, as he also obviously felt rejected by being lumped with abortionists and it does seem to me that homosexuals do not have a voice in the Church, or did I miss it? I hope you don't mind me saying all this Terry, but I must defend my friend, he has been very good to me through the years and suffered much. I would love him to know the grace of God in his deeply lonely heart and it would be wonderful if he received this gift through the message of the Catholic church.

Well, I suppose it is bad form to express his opinion the way he did. However he put into words something which has bothered me. Abortion and same sex marriage are like comparing apples and oranges, not equivalent situations. However much same sex marriage is wrong, it doesn't kill anyone. I can see how someone like Shadowlands' friend would feel further marginalized by being lumped together with abortionists.

I don't know how to put this. Terry, if you are disappointed because Fr Martin's criticism of the Pope is a sign of disobedience, I can understand. And I am sure you can think of better ways to avoid looking disobedient. I think Fr Martin was quite clear about why he made that comment and I can understand his basis. But then, as you say, maybe you do expect too much. I say this because I sense that I expect too much from Abbey Roads too. And I am similarly disappointed just when I start to like Abbey Roads....

Shadowlands - Keep loving your friend - the Holy Father isn't lumping homosexuals together with abortionists - I didn't get that message at least. The two movements are turning culture and morality upside down - the pope doesn't seem to be condemning individuals. Hard to see perhaps - but he seems to me to be addressing political movements and processes - the legalization of such undermines the stability of society.

Tell your friend to pray the rosary and you do it for him if he can't - it worked for me - I do not feel as if the Holy Father is condemning me. Quite the opposite.

I'm not as well educated as Fr. Martin so it is rather difficult for me to articulate and/or defend the Holy Father's statement.

I , like everyone else, have had my fair share of disappointments with people. I expected one thing or assumed another, and soon I would fall into disappointment. "I never thought they would think X or do Y." Continual disappointments can lead to an inability to trust others. I have now been working on my own perspective rather than focusing on others' perspectives. Meaning, all are human, all are fallen, all are sinners. The only one who will never disappoint me is my Lord Jesus Christ. I can not look to others as perfect or savior-like. And this, then, is a lesson for me in forgiveness. To not condone, but to forgive. Disappointments are inevitable and need to be accepted as a part of this life's journey with fellow sinners. Further, we then choose how and how much we will allow it to affect us. Nothing, or no one makes us feel anything. Take the good and pray for their "bad" that have lead to your disappointment. Your liking someone to begin with shows the potential you are able to see in them. Okay. My 5 cents. Tra-la-la. ;-)

Oh! just incase anyone starts getting to like me a bit, let me warn them here and now, I'm battling a drink problem! Doing OK at the moment, thanks be to God and the power of the Rosary, but....don't get to like me too much...just in-case. You can safely like me a little bit though, I could use a 'little' bit of like now and again :)

Hi Terry, I read your appeal. I will not follow your blog if I don't like your post but I check your blog everyday. Like a priest, you cannot please everyone, whether they like you or not, don't be disappointed, you will still have some loyal followers.

First....God bless you Shadowlands, for being there for your friend and bravely expressing so beautifully your concerns. Fr. Martin is absolutely correct in what he writes. There is no equivalence whatsoever between homosexuality and abortion, and the Pope, who I am also a great fan of, simply mispoke on this occassion. I am sure he will not make the same mistake.

The Holy Father is soooo much smarter than I am, for sure, and even smarter than Fr Martin.

I wish that Fr Martin and his sympathisers here would understand. The Holy Father is not condemning homosexuals. Those who carry that cross are under a very heavy burden and we are to love them and empathise with them and help them in their daily struggles towards holiness, which INCLUDES LIVING CHASTITY. We must help those who practice homosexuality (and those who are engaged in any form of sexual perversion/addiction, for that matter!) to see that they are in slavery to a very poisonous lifestyle and Jesus can and will set their minds and souls free from this. We owe them our love and support.

HOWEVER, it must be pointed out that the practice of homosexuality is indeed very equal to abortion, in that it cuts off future generations of human beings from being born. Entire lineages of people wiped off the map forever, usurping God's Master Plans. It is demonic.

Additionally, homosexuality (along with pornography) objectifies humans and diminishes their human dignity. When we objectify human beings, it poisons one's soul and mind. It teaches one to see others as mere objects there for one's own self gratification. This leads to using others to the point of all sorts of horrible sins and abuses! Most of the most infamous serial killers all admitted to getting their start by looking at pornography. Almost all of them practiced homosexuality (or had it forced upon them) at some time, too.

Shadowlands, I understand your concern for your friend and agree that we always need to distinguish between the sin and the sinner -- though granted that's pretty tough to do.

Given the damage that homosexual priests have caused in recent years, I am not surprised to find some resentment towards homosexuals -- individuals -- within the Church. My own priest refers to gays as "fag boys" (NOT from the pulpit!!), and when a gay couple were among a number of homeowners opposed to his expansion plans, he expressed his desire to check up on them to find out if they criminal backgrounds, and slam them with whatever dirt he was able to dig up. That sounds extreme, but then he was in seminary back when there was a decided "lavender" cast to it -- is it any wonder he is bitter? And who knows, these days, what sorts of comments and insults are thrown at good priests, because of the scandals. I'm not excusing any harshness, but I am saying it is hardly to be wondered at.

Hmm...I think his choice of words were very poor, my dear Terry. But I must say - as I have in previous comments here at Abb's - that homosexuality and abortion in my humble opinion don't equate. However, when clergy disagree or criticize the Holy Father openly and publicly My skin begins to crawl, especially when this dissent done in front of non-Catholics. Again, I would never say that homosexuality is as morally reprehensible as killing an unborn baby.

Our Holy Father has been strained considerably by the sex scandals that our Church has had to deal with in resent times. The damaging consequences of these scandals I'm sure were on his mind when he made those comments.

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Show us your face and we shall be saved. "Each soul is the object of My special love. That is why I am so grateful to those who are resourceful and bringing back sinners to Me. Keep this in mind then. I gave My life for them in the most atrocious torture, for these poor beloved ones. A humble repentance, and they are already on My heart. So speak gently to them. Speak with tenderness. A brusque remark could drive them farther away." - He and I

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